Friday, November 15
Peoria, Ill.
11:00 A.M.
Southeast Missouri State University
vs
NCAA Regionals
Redhawks Head to Peoria for the 2024 NCAA Midwest Regional Friday
11/13/2024 1:21:00 PM | Cross Country
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri cross country is set for the 2024 NCAA Midwest regional meet at the Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill., on Friday, November 15th.
The Women's 6K race will begin at 11:00 a.m., with the Men's 10K race to follow at 12:00 p.m.
Qualifiers for the cross country championships will be decided after action from regional championships. The top two teams automatically qualify from each of the nine regions, for a total of 18 teams. Thirteen additional teams will be selected at-large.
Thirty-eight individuals will be selected to participate in each championship through an automatic qualifier and at-large selection process. The first four regional finishers not from an automatic qualifying or at-large team also secure an auto-bid to the championships.
Competing on the men's side is Senior's Noah Little and Justin Splitt, Juniors Jacob Blassingame, Clayton Eftink, and Byron Sowerby, Sophomore Cade McCadams, and Freshman Evan Fuller
Competing for the women is Senior Madelyn Gray, Juniors Alayna Sparr and Kayla Vogelsang, Sophomores Brooklyn Bender and Nova Ojutkangas, and Freshmen Lauren Eftink and Cordelia Hoover
Coaches Thoughts
"The Regional meet is always a tough race, as it is the highest level of competition we have seen all year and our Region is exceptionally tough", Head Coach Ryan Lane said when asked about the meet. "The conditions look great and the course is fast, leaving a good situation for athletes concluding their season to run their personal bests. We also have a few athletes who are looking to run towards the top of the field and work for an All-Region mark, putting them in the pool for a National selection".
"As a whole, we had a number of really positive moments in the season. The men's team had a fantastic season, but we are holding out a few key members of the team from unfortunate illnesses. We had growth as a program that allowed for a Division I era team average best in multiple meets", Lane said on his thoughts of the season.
"The women's team had a tough bill from the start, with three of the team's top 6 graduating last year. Our young team performed admirably, having the most number of women under 23:00 in a long time. This is great news for the future as we also have exceptional middle-distance runners and returners who are positioned for a really strong second semester".
2024 OVC Championship Recap
The Southeast Missouri women's team finished in fifth tied with Western Illinois with 136 points. The men's team finished fourth with 108 total points.
Nova Ojutkangas crossed the line at 20:58.51, ahead of 94 other athletes and 39 seconds ahead of second place to claim the OVC 6k title, becoming just the fifth woman in SEMO history to accomplish the feat. She finishes as the Female Athlete of the Championship and takes home All OVC First team Laurels.
Senior Noah Little Crossed the line at 24:23.60 to take fourth in the 8k race. Little finished ahead of 86 other athletes and took home his second straight All OVC First Team honor.
Madelyn Gray and Freshman Lauren Eftink crossed the line at 22:57.57 (25th) and 23:02.67 (30th) to take second and third for the Redhawks.
With times of 23:10.89 and 23:26.92 Brooklyn Bender and Kayla Vogelsang placed 37th and 47th to round out the scorers for the women's team.
With places of 16th and 27th Garrett Dumke and Myles Thornburg finished second and third for the men's team with times of 24:54.50 and 25:25.70.
Cade McCadams notched a finishing mark of 25:26.30 (26th) and Freshman Evan Fuller ran his first OVC championship in 25:47.80 for 40th.
Redhawk Scorers
The top five finishers in each race count towards the overall team score.
On the women's side Ojutkangas has led the Redhawks in all five races. Other scorers include freshman Lauren Eftink (5), Erika Mellor (4), Brooklyn Bender (4), Madelyn Gray (3), Kayla Vogelsang (2), and freshmen Cordelia Hoover and Mattea Pearsall.
On the men's side Little has led the men four times and scored in every race. Cimmarusti led the men in one race and scored in four meets. Other scorers include Dumke (5), Myles Thornburg (4), Freshman Evan Fuller (3), Cade McCadams (2), Justin Splitt, and Byron Sowerby.
Pure Dominance
Nova Ojutkangas has dominated in all her races this season, leading the Redhawk women in every race. The redshirt sophomore has placed first in four out of five meets this season while claiming OVC Female Runner of the Week a league high four times.
The France native won the Ohio Valley Conference Championship to become the fifth woman in SEMO history to accomplish the feat and was named OVC 2024 Female Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Championship and All OVC First team.
Ojutkangas also broke the SEMO 6k record of 20: 42.77 set by Hannah Eastman last year when she crossed the line at 20:31.3 at the Angel Mounds Invitational.
Looking Ahead
After the Regional meet concludes any qualifying Redhawks will travel to Madison Wis., Saturday, Nov. 23 to compete at the NCAA Championships.
The Women's 6K race will begin at 11:00 a.m., with the Men's 10K race to follow at 12:00 p.m.
Qualifiers for the cross country championships will be decided after action from regional championships. The top two teams automatically qualify from each of the nine regions, for a total of 18 teams. Thirteen additional teams will be selected at-large.
Thirty-eight individuals will be selected to participate in each championship through an automatic qualifier and at-large selection process. The first four regional finishers not from an automatic qualifying or at-large team also secure an auto-bid to the championships.
Competing on the men's side is Senior's Noah Little and Justin Splitt, Juniors Jacob Blassingame, Clayton Eftink, and Byron Sowerby, Sophomore Cade McCadams, and Freshman Evan Fuller
Competing for the women is Senior Madelyn Gray, Juniors Alayna Sparr and Kayla Vogelsang, Sophomores Brooklyn Bender and Nova Ojutkangas, and Freshmen Lauren Eftink and Cordelia Hoover
Coaches Thoughts
"The Regional meet is always a tough race, as it is the highest level of competition we have seen all year and our Region is exceptionally tough", Head Coach Ryan Lane said when asked about the meet. "The conditions look great and the course is fast, leaving a good situation for athletes concluding their season to run their personal bests. We also have a few athletes who are looking to run towards the top of the field and work for an All-Region mark, putting them in the pool for a National selection".
"As a whole, we had a number of really positive moments in the season. The men's team had a fantastic season, but we are holding out a few key members of the team from unfortunate illnesses. We had growth as a program that allowed for a Division I era team average best in multiple meets", Lane said on his thoughts of the season.
"The women's team had a tough bill from the start, with three of the team's top 6 graduating last year. Our young team performed admirably, having the most number of women under 23:00 in a long time. This is great news for the future as we also have exceptional middle-distance runners and returners who are positioned for a really strong second semester".
2024 OVC Championship Recap
The Southeast Missouri women's team finished in fifth tied with Western Illinois with 136 points. The men's team finished fourth with 108 total points.
Nova Ojutkangas crossed the line at 20:58.51, ahead of 94 other athletes and 39 seconds ahead of second place to claim the OVC 6k title, becoming just the fifth woman in SEMO history to accomplish the feat. She finishes as the Female Athlete of the Championship and takes home All OVC First team Laurels.
Senior Noah Little Crossed the line at 24:23.60 to take fourth in the 8k race. Little finished ahead of 86 other athletes and took home his second straight All OVC First Team honor.
Madelyn Gray and Freshman Lauren Eftink crossed the line at 22:57.57 (25th) and 23:02.67 (30th) to take second and third for the Redhawks.
With times of 23:10.89 and 23:26.92 Brooklyn Bender and Kayla Vogelsang placed 37th and 47th to round out the scorers for the women's team.
With places of 16th and 27th Garrett Dumke and Myles Thornburg finished second and third for the men's team with times of 24:54.50 and 25:25.70.
Cade McCadams notched a finishing mark of 25:26.30 (26th) and Freshman Evan Fuller ran his first OVC championship in 25:47.80 for 40th.
Redhawk Scorers
The top five finishers in each race count towards the overall team score.
On the women's side Ojutkangas has led the Redhawks in all five races. Other scorers include freshman Lauren Eftink (5), Erika Mellor (4), Brooklyn Bender (4), Madelyn Gray (3), Kayla Vogelsang (2), and freshmen Cordelia Hoover and Mattea Pearsall.
On the men's side Little has led the men four times and scored in every race. Cimmarusti led the men in one race and scored in four meets. Other scorers include Dumke (5), Myles Thornburg (4), Freshman Evan Fuller (3), Cade McCadams (2), Justin Splitt, and Byron Sowerby.
Pure Dominance
Nova Ojutkangas has dominated in all her races this season, leading the Redhawk women in every race. The redshirt sophomore has placed first in four out of five meets this season while claiming OVC Female Runner of the Week a league high four times.
The France native won the Ohio Valley Conference Championship to become the fifth woman in SEMO history to accomplish the feat and was named OVC 2024 Female Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Championship and All OVC First team.
Ojutkangas also broke the SEMO 6k record of 20: 42.77 set by Hannah Eastman last year when she crossed the line at 20:31.3 at the Angel Mounds Invitational.
Looking Ahead
After the Regional meet concludes any qualifying Redhawks will travel to Madison Wis., Saturday, Nov. 23 to compete at the NCAA Championships.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
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/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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